CDS Community Development Strategies
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Our Team >
      • Steve Spillette
      • Brenda Crenshaw
      • Michael Prats
      • Ty Jacobsen
      • Scott Reineking
    • Our Clients
    • Testimonials of our Work
    • Work with Us
  • Services
    • Market Analysis & Feasibility Studies
    • Economic & Demographic Analysis
    • Public Plans & Special Districts
    • Housing Studies
    • GIS Services
    • Surveys & Primary Research
  • Newsworthy
  • Lot Price Survey
  • Contact

What's Not Being Said About MUDs

8/25/2016

Comments

 
Steve Spillette
CDS Community Development Strategies

This week, the Houston Chronicle published an article about a Municipal Utility District and the dissatisfaction of some homeowners that the MUD might issue bonds, which they believe could raise they property tax rates. The article, in my opinion, was slanted toward an angle that MUDs represent a developer-run local government agency run amok, with little oversight and unchecked taxation power. What this article fails to provide is the overall economic benefit that MUDs provide, and the reason for their existence in the first place. It also doesn’t explain who truly bears the cost of the initial infrastructure – the developers.
Picture

Read More
Comments

Upwardly Mobile Homes

8/24/2016

Comments

 
Kent Dussair
CDS Community Development Strategies

​Why is the mobile home segment of the housing market so important and yet so maligned by society? The answer is a combination of ignorance, misconceptions, and images from the past where the “trailer trash” notion has been widely portrayed in movies and on television. Realistic vestiges of those images do remain. But today, many mobile home neighborhoods have cleaned up their act, while still providing housing at a very low cost. Without this layer of low cost housing, America would have a much larger number of subsidized renters (or even homeless).  Although monthly rental costs for a mobile home vary by quality of location and park amenities, in most markets a family can have a three-bedrooms, two-bath home with a yard for approximately one-half the cost of living in an apartment. 
Picture

Read More
Comments

Cost Effective Olympics: Examining Houston’s 2012 Bid

8/9/2016

Comments

 
Ty Jacobsen
CDS Community Development Strategies

The XXXI (31st) Olympiad is now underway in Rio De Janeiro, and with it come the conversations and debates about the impact of hosting the Olympic Games. Every two years, we see fresh fears about the readiness of the latest host to hold a safe, enjoyable, and profitable Olympics. The cautionary tales of past host cities are brought back up, tales of crippling debt and of expensive new venues now sitting unused in cities such as Montreal, Sarajevo, Athens, and Beijing. The media, former Olympic athletes, and everyday sports fans feel prompted to ask if there is a way to improve the value and mitigate the negative impacts of hosting the Olympic Games. Perhaps some answers can be found by looking back at Houston’s failed bid to host the 2012 Olympics.
Picture

Read More
Comments

Houston’s Apartment Gains and Pains Haven’t Been Equally Distributed

8/5/2016

Comments

 
Steve Spillette
CDS Community Development Strategies

Houston remains the largest US metro area most economically tied to oil and gas. Houston benefited from those ties from 2011 to 2014, during a period of high oil prices, adding 380,000 jobs. But since then, oil prices have dropped significantly. While nearly all sectors of the area's economy have felt that drop, some have felt it more than others. The apartment market is receiving a noticeable impact. This article originally appeared in the August 2016 issue of Texas Real Estate Business.
Picture
Picture

Read More
Comments

Urban Growth and Rural America

8/2/2016

Comments

 
J. Kirby Snideman, ACIP
CDS Community Development Strategies

While many demographic trends in America ebb and flow, there are a few that remain constant. One important trend: America is becoming less rural. In the past, both rural and urban areas have grown—urban growth just far surpassed rural growth. Recently, however, non-metro areas in the U.S. have seen the first overall population decrease since these numbers were tracked.
Picture
​A look at the Numbers
​In 1900, the U.S. urban population was just over 30 million while the rural population was just shy of 46 million. The split was 39.6% urban and 60.4% rural. By 2010, the urban share increased to 80.7% while the rural share shrank to 19.3%. For some states, like Texas, this reverse was even more drastic, going from 82.9% rural to 15.3% over the same time. 
Picture
While the share of rural residents in America has decreased significantly, the number of residents has actually increased… but only slightly. In comparison, the number of residents considered urban has increased exponentially. Put another way, nearly all the growth in this country has been urban.

Read More
Comments

What $1,500 in Rent Gets You in Various Cities?

7/21/2016

Comments

 
Rent Cafe Blog
While location, location, location is something we tend to emphasize a lot, the best places often come with compromises that are hard to come to terms with—chief among which, the financial matters. But price in itself isn’t everything either. After all, renting a space to live in is all about, well, space. And if you’re anything like us, the more stretch you get for your cash, the wider your grin, so apartment size is important. Then again, you cannot lose sight of location completely…
Picture
​Here’s what $1,500 rents across the US—from 271 sq.ft. in Manhattan to 1,948 sq.ft. in Memphis

Create your own infographics
For the full article click here.
Comments

Master Planned Community Coming to Baytown

7/13/2016

Comments

 
CDS Community Development Strategies
The industrial city of Baytown, just east of Houston, has long been ignored by residential developers who create masterplanned and amenitized communities.  CDS performed a series of studies for the Baytown – West Chambers County Economic Development Foundation in 2008 – 2010 covering both retail and housing demand in the area.  Our work showed that both new retail and housing development serving middle class households was justified by existing market conditions.  Since then, Baytown has had great success in attracting well-known retail businesses to fill shopping and dining gaps, plus new quality apartment development.  
Picture
The last piece of the puzzle was attracting a developer to create a new amenitized residential community serving the well-paid professionals and managers who work in the fast-growing industrial facilities nearby.  This customer base has long been buying homes in more distant suburban communities such as the west Lake Houston area and Clear Lake, and increasingly in the adjacent community of Mont Belvieu.  We demonstrated that a new higher-priced single family development was feasible in Baytown itself, especially if the community supported its development.  Finally, 2016 has brought the news Baytown has waited for.  The city has accomplished a lot since CDS’ studies, and it’s a credit to local leaders who have worked to attract new investment.  See the article linked below.
Press Reader: Higher-end Homes Coming to Baytown

Houston Business Journal: Master Planned Community to Rise in Baytown

 
Houston Chronicle: Baytown to Welcome a Master Planned Community


Comments

4 BIG Ideas for SMALL Downtown Revitalization

7/12/2016

Comments

 
Steve Spillette
CDS Community Development Strategies

Does your community have a historic downtown that seems to be neglected? Despite the local history, interesting architecture, and walkable streets, many businesses locate elsewhere. On the surface, it can sometimes feel like a hopeless situation. But many small communities are discovering what works in big cities can work in their little towns, too.
Picture
A Little History
The heritage and charm of historic downtowns weren’t enough to sustain economic activity in many small places as economic conditions and consumer preferences changed over time. For many communities, this trend accelerated during the 1960s. Many local businesses were driven under by national chains. Occupants moved out. Rents declined. Eventually, building owners lost the revenue and/or the interest in keeping their properties up to date and in good condition. Sadly, many otherwise attractive buildings fell into disrepair and vacancy.

Read More
Comments

Senior Housing Getting Developers' Attention

7/7/2016

Comments

 
Brenda Crenshaw
CDS Community Development Strategies

​With the senior population increasing and living longer, the demand for new Active Adult housing is being explored by more developers. One developer, Greystar, has taken the plunge into senior housing recently with the announcement of two Houston properties and 26 more to come around the country. 
Picture

Read More
Comments

Houston Spring Floods Captured on Google Earth 

6/29/2016

Comments

 
Ty Jacobsen & Kirby Snideman
CDS Community Development Strategies
Google Earth has recently updated their aerial imagery, capturing the flooding that swamped Houston earlier this spring. The latest imagery is dated April 2016, which provides a stark contrast from imagery taken in previous months. 
Picture
Note: To access this imagery, you need to download Google Earth and utilize the historical imagery function. Click here for more information. 
The images below are side by side comparisons of various locations in Houston where the flooding was visually striking. In the first three images, the before pictures on the left were taken in March 2016. In the last image, the before picture was taken in November 2015. CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE.
Brazos near Thompsons
Below is Brazos River flooding near Sienna Plantation, Riverstone, and the town of Thompsons. You can see the difference between the levee protected neighborhoods north and east of the river vs. the rural land to the west and south around Thompsons. 
Picture

Read More
Comments

6 Reasons Why Some Small Towns Never Grow

6/28/2016

Comments

 
Kent Dussair
​CDS Community Development Strategies
Every big city was once little. But why do so many small towns never really grow? Here are six common reasons why some small places stay that way. While most little towns cannot affect the first two, the last four might represent an opportunity for growth... if they can be corrected.
Picture
1) The times they are a changin’.
There are historical reasons cities are located where they are and sometimes the original location factors no longer exist or at least are not relevant.  When highways replaced railroads as the primary means of access some small cities became less of a destination and more of a self-contained community.  Typically, new highways intentionally bypass commercial areas to avoid stop lights and congestion.  Over time key industries/employers can dry up or even shut down and the demand for historically mainstay agricultural crops may diminish.  Replacing these employers or products can be slow if not impossible.  

Read More
Comments

Houston: Ethnically Diverse But Still Somewhat Separated

6/22/2016

Comments

 
Ty Jacobsen
CDS Community Development Strategies

Houston has been called the most diverse large city in the nation, and the Houston area is counted among the most diverse metropolitan areas in the nation. However, looking at the City or region as a whole does not offer a lot of insight in to how individuals in these areas encounter diversity. Specifically, large regional statistics do not tell us how diverse or segregated the neighborhoods in an area may be, and whether or not individuals are likely to encounter significant diversity where they live. This article takes a closer look at diversity at the local level in the Houston area.
Picture
The map below shows the largest race or ethnicity in each Census Block Group geography in the 8-county Houston region* in 2000 and in 2010.  Each of the four major race or ethnic groups in the Houston region are color-coded, and the shade of each color indicates the magnitude of the largest group in each geography.  The darker colors indicate Block Groups where greater than 80% of the population is part of the largest race or ethnicity.  The medium shades show where the largest group makes up between 50% and 80% of the population.  The lightest shade of each race or ethnic group’s color code indicates a geography where the largest ethnic group makes up less than 50% of the population.  It is these lightest shade Block Groups where race and ethnic diversity is highest.
Ethnic Diversity in the Houston Area, 2000 to 2010
Picture
The 8-county Houston region: Harris County, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller.

Read More
Comments

Full House: Multigen Housing "Everywhere You Look"

6/16/2016

Comments

 
J. Kirby Snideman, AICP
CDS Community Development Strategies

Multigenerational housing is making a comeback. After decades of decline, the number of Americans living in multigenerational households dropped to roughly 26 million in 1970. Since then it’s more than doubled; currently there are an estimated 60 million Americans (18%) living in a home with three or more generations. This article examines the reasons behind this trend and also provides a look at the new types of homes being built to accommodate multigenerational families. 
Picture
According to data from the American Community Survey (ACS), the number of Americans living in multigenerational households in 2012 was 57 million, or 18.1% of the total population. These 57 million Americans occupied 4.3 million homes. That accounted for 5.6% of all occupied homes in the United States. That’s up from 3.7% of occupied homes in 2000.
​
Multigenerational households were more common at the beginning of the last century, but declined significantly following World War II. During this time the United States experienced a period of economic expansion which manifested itself in widespread suburban development and an increased supply of single family homes. With home ownership as national policy, mortgages became widely available. In addition, suburban growth and a ready supply of spec homes across the nation accommodated a highly mobile workforce, resulting in many families being spread across several states. 
Picture

Read More
Comments

Debunking Demographics

5/31/2016

Comments

 
Steve Spillette
CDS Community Development Strategies

In an effort to lure new commercial development, many communities want to make sure that prospective developers and businesses have access to accurate demographic data. However, this can be challenging in areas that are growing rapidly. Understanding this challenge requires a basic understanding about how demographic data is collected.
Picture

Read More
Comments

Qualitative & Quantitative Research – The CDS Way

5/24/2016

Comments

 
Brenda Crenshaw
CDS Community Development Strategies
So you've decided you need some research for your development or public plan. CDS can help. When we provide research for a project, we look at both quantitative and qualitative factors. Here's a breakdown of our approach... 
Picture

Read More
Comments

Focus Group Research: Do It Right or Don’t Do It at All

5/16/2016

Comments

 
Kent Dussair
CDS Community Development Strategies
Everyone involved in marketing is at least somewhat familiar with Focus Group research. The idea of quickly gaining valuable insights from a small group of individuals is almost too good to be true. What could be easier than having a friendly discussion with a bunch of nice people? Well not so fast... there are a few important details that are often overlooked. 
Picture
In my mind there are two classifications of Focus Groups; those that are professionally managed and those that are thrown together haphazardly. The former often yields valuable results—while the latter may produce a false sense of confidence in your conclusions. Here are three basic suggestions:

Read More
Comments

Gentlemen, Start Your... uh... Taxes?

5/5/2016

Comments

 
Ty Jacobsen
CDS Community Development Strategies
As December is to Christmas, the month of May is to auto racing.  May is when the countdown begins in earnest toward the Memorial Day weekend and three of the most historic and popular events in the world of auto racing, NASCAR’s World 600, Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix, and, especially, the Indianapolis 500.  2016 will mark the 100th running of the 500-mile race at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  The Speedway itself opened in 1909 and hosted the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911.​  As one would expect from a facility that first opened during the Taft administration, the Speedway has been in a near constant state of maintenance, expansion, and upgrade over the years.   In what had become rather unique in American professional sports, the Speedway had done all of this without ever using government or taxpayer assistance.  That changed in 2013, when the Speedway petitioned the State to be made a special taxing district.  ​
Picture
Ty Jacobsen at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway... on the right, not the left

Read More
Comments

The Rule of 70 and Calculating Growth: Why Jeb Bush's Economic Plan was Widely Panned

4/27/2016

Comments

 
J. Kirby Snideman, AICP
CDS Community Development Strategies
The US population growth rate is currently around 0.7%. US GDP growth during the 4th quarter of 2015 was 1.4%. Stock market growth of over the long term is generally expected at 6-7%. What do these growth rates mean and how can you quickly makes sense of them? This article explains the Rule of 70, a tool frequently used by urban planners to help the public quickly grasp the impact of growth rates--like Jeb Bush's 4% economic growth goal released last year.
Picture
Image Source: New York Times
Explanation of the Rule of 70
The rule of 70 is a way to estimate the time it takes to double a number based on its growth rate. The formula is as follows: Take the number 70 and divide it by the growth rate. The result is the number of years required to double. For example, if your population is growing at 2%, divide 70 by 2. The result is 35; it will take 35 years for your population to double at a 2% growth rate.

Read More
Comments

2016 Energy Corridor Report Released

4/20/2016

Comments

 
CDS Community Development Strategies
The Energy Corridor District recently released the 2016 Land Use and Demographics report, completed by CDS Community Development Strategies. This report presents a complete profile of the population and development located within the boundaries of The Houston Energy Corridor. CDS has completed a similar report for the Energy Corridor over the last several years. ​​
Picture
The Energy Corridor District 2016 Land Use Map

Read More
Comments

Latest Houston Area Lot Price Survey Released; Event Held at St. Arnold's Brewery

4/13/2016

Comments

 
CDS Community Development Strategies
Last night at St. Arnold's Brewery near Downtown Houston, CDS released the latest edition of the Lot Price Survey. The event was well attended by representatives from the area's residential development industry. Beer and BBQ were served, and a presentation was given summarizing the latest trends and findings from the survey. For those who missed the presentation, you can watch it here.
Picture
​The Greater Houston Area Lot Price Survey is a semi-annual report published each April and September. The survey features detailed information on selected active single-family subdivisions throughout the Greater Houston Area.​ For more information, visit our Lot Price Survey info page. 
For a PDF copy of the event presentations, click on the links below:
Houston Area Lot Price Survey - Key Findings
TxDOT Houston Area Roadway Projects Briefing
Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Follow CDS

    RSS Feed

    Search

    Categories

    All
    CDS In The Press
    CDS Projects
    Commercial Real Estate
    Cost Of Living
    Demographics
    Dense Development
    Employment
    Focus Groups
    GIS
    Grocery Stores
    Housing
    Housing Preferences
    Infrastructure
    Land Use
    LPS
    Market Analysis
    Market Trends
    Master Planned Communities
    Mixed Use
    Multifamily
    Municipal Utility Districts
    Office
    Parking
    Parks And Open Space
    Population Growth
    Race And Ethnicity
    Recreation Planning
    Redevelopment
    Rented Housing
    Research
    Residential
    Retail
    Rural Development
    School Districts
    Self-Storage
    Senior Housing
    Single Family Residential
    Small Towns
    Special Districts
    Student Housing
    Survey
    Taxing Policy
    Urban Planning
    Walkability

    Archives

    September 2019
    August 2019
    February 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    January 2014
    March 2013
    May 2011
    October 2010
    November 2009
    September 2009
    January 2009
    June 2007
    March 2007
    January 2007
    July 2006
    May 2006
    August 2001

© 2019 CDS - All rights reserved.  CDS is an InterDirect USA Ltd. company.
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Our Team >
      • Steve Spillette
      • Brenda Crenshaw
      • Michael Prats
      • Ty Jacobsen
      • Scott Reineking
    • Our Clients
    • Testimonials of our Work
    • Work with Us
  • Services
    • Market Analysis & Feasibility Studies
    • Economic & Demographic Analysis
    • Public Plans & Special Districts
    • Housing Studies
    • GIS Services
    • Surveys & Primary Research
  • Newsworthy
  • Lot Price Survey
  • Contact